Train-order device.



No. 866,213. PATENTED SEPT.'1'7,1907.

' J. c. NEEL, JR. TRAIN ORDER DEVICE.

APPLICATION FILED DEC. 22. 1906.

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I I I ATTORNEYS UNITED STATES PATENT I OFFICE.

JOHN OIOERO NEEL, JR, OF SHERIDAN, WYOMING.

TRAIN-ORDER DEVICE.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Sept. 17, 1907.

hApplieation filed December 22, 1906. Serial No. 349,083.

of Sheridan and State of Wyoming, have invented a new and useful TrainOrder Device, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to devices for delivering train orders or other papers and has for its object to provide means whereby the engineer and conductor of a train traveling at a high rate of speed may conveniently receive their orders without the annoyance, expense and loss of time incident to making a stop.

A further object of the invention is to provide a supporting bracket having oppositely disposed clamping members adapted to engage the message-holding devices whereby the latter may be delivered to a train traveling in either direction.

A further object is to provide a hoop or ring having a .circumferential slot or opening formed in the walls carried by the hook for preventing accidental displace ment of the same.

A further object of the invention is to generally improve this class of devices so as to increase their utility, durability and eficiency.

With these and otherobjects in view the invention consists in the construction and novel combination and arrangement of parts hereinafter fully described, and illustrated in the accompanying drawings, it being un derstood that various changes in form, proportions and minor details of construction may be resorted to within the scope of the appended claims.

In the accompanying drawings forming a part of this specification: Figure 1 is a side elevation of a train-order delivering device constructed in accordance with my invention. Fig. 2 is a front elevation of the same. Fig. 3 is a perspective view of the supporting brackets with the hoops or rings detached. Fig. 4 is a side elevation of the hook or catching device. Fig. 5 is a perspective View of one of the rings or delivering devices detached. Fig. 6 is a side elevation illustrating a modified form of the invention. Fig. 7 is a similar view illustrating a further modification.

Similar numerals of reference indicate corresponding parts in all of the figures of the drawings.

The improved device comprises the posts or standards 5 designed to be embedded or otherwise fastened in the earth at predetermined intervals along the track and preferably arranged one opposite each telegraphstation.

Secured to the free end of the post or standard 5 in any suitable manner, as by belts or similar fastening devices 6, is a supporting bracket 7 provided with spaced angularly disposed arms 8 having their free ends curved laterally in opposite direction as indicated at 9 and their terminals bent inwardly at 10. Bearing against the concave faces of the arms 8 are spring clamping members each preferably formed of a single piece of wire having an intermediate portion thereof bent to form a loop 11 and its opposite ends extended laterally at the curved portion 9 of the arms 8 to form clamping jaws 12, there being a bolt 13 passing through each arm and having its threaded end engaging a nut 14 which bears against the loop 11 and serves to secure the clamping members in position on the angular arms of the bracket.

Riveted or otherwise secured to the convex faces of the arms 8 are transverse rods 15 arranged one on each side of the clamping members 12 and disposed in staggered relation thereto so as to form a support for the message-holding devices 16. The message-holding devices 16 each comprise a hoop or ring having its interior walls formed with a circumferential slot or opening 17 the Walls of which are inclined or beveled as indicated at 18 for engagement with the message, train-order or other article to be delivered to the engineer or conductor of the train. The hoops or rings 16 are supported on the clamping members with the rods 15 and clamping jaws 12 engaging the interior and exterior walls of said hoop and with the edge of the hoop bearing against the adjacent longitudinal edge of the angular arms 8, as

shown, thus yieldably supporting the hoops in position on the supporting bracket.

Extending laterally from the intermediate portion of the supportingbracket 7 is an arm or projection 19 adapted to support a lantern 20 for notifying the engineer that orders are to be delivered at that particular station. The standards may be provided with suitable ladders 21 to assist the operator in positioning the hoops 16 upon the support. As a means for catching and holding the rings or message-holding devices 16 there is provided a suitable catching tool consisting of a handle 22 having a hooked end 23 provided with inwardly extending spring tongues 24 the free ends of which are inclined or beveled and spaced apart at 25 to permit the introduction of the hoop.

In operation the operator at the station places the rings in position on either side of the supporting member according to the direction of travel of the train to which the orders are to be delivered. As the train approaches the station the engineer extends the catching tool 32 in the path of the upper ring or hoop 16 so that when the spring tongues 24 engage the hoop the latter will be guided through the opening 25 on to the hooked portion 23 thus permitting the engineer to detach the message or order-slip from the ring The conductor on the rear end of the train releases the adjacent ring in a similar manner, the conductor and engineer being provided with similar hoops or rings which are deposited on the platform at the station in return for the rings removed from the support.

When orders are to be delivered at night the lantern 20 is placed on the bracket 19 so as to enable the engineer to readily see thehoops or rings.

Attention is called to the fact that the longitudinal edges of the supporting arms serve to limit the lateral movement of the hoops 16 while the rods 15 and arms 12 serve to prevent vertical movement of said hoops. It will also be observed that by reason of the inclined Wall of the openings in the hoops 16 the message or trainorder is locked in position within the hoop without the employment of spring clips or similar fastening devices.

In Fig. 6 of the drawings there is illustrated a modified form of the invention in which the lower end of the bracket 7 is rigidly secured to the post or standard while the upper end thereof is extended vertically above the adjacent end of said post and provided with a flange 19 for supporting the lantern. In this case the clamping members are secured to the bracket so that the ring 16 may be supported near one edge of said post and thusoccupy very little space.

In Fig. 7 the bracket 7 is dispensed with, the clamping members 12 and the rod 15 being secured directly to the post or standard, as shown.

The rings or hoops may be made in various sizes and shapes and nickled, japanned or otherwise coated to protect the same against the action of the elements.

From the foregoing description it is thought that the construction and operation of the device will be readily understood by those skilled in the art and further description thereof is deemed unnecessary.

Having thus described the invention what is claimed is:

1. A train-order delivering device comprising a support, and a hoop carried by the support and having its walls pierced by a circumferential V-shaped slot adapted to receive the order to be delivered.

2 A train-order delivering device comprising a support and superposed hoops detachably secured to the support and each provided with a circumferential slot the walls of which are inclined towards one end thereof and adapted to engage the order to be delivered.

3. A train'order delivering device comprising a standard, spaced arms secured to the standard, clamping demembers and each 5, A train-order delivering device comprising a standard, arms extending laterally from the standard, a spring clamping member secured to one side of the arm, transverse rods secured to the opposite side of the arm, and a message-holding device engaging the clamping memher and bearing against said rods.

(5. A train order delivering device comprising a standard, an arm extending laterally from the standard and having its free end curved laterally, a clamping member secured to said arms and bearing against the curved end thereof, and a hoop engaging the clamping member and provided with means for supporting the order to be delivered.

7. A trainprder delivering device comprising a standard, a bracket secured to the standard and provided with spaced angularly disposed arms the ends of which are curved laterally, clamping devices secured to the inner faces of the arms and extending laterally in opposite directions on each side of the arms at the curved portion thereof, rods extending transversely across the arms on the outer faces thereof, and hoops engaging the clamping arms and bearing against said rods, said hoops being provided with means for supporting the message to be delivered.

8. A train-order delivering device comprising a standard, a bracket secured to the standard and provided with spaced angularly disposed arms the ends of which are curved laterally and provided with clamping members, an extension secured to the bracket between said arms, and hoops engaging the clamping members and bearing against the adjacent longitudinal edges of the arms at the curved portions thereof, said hoops being provided with means for supporting the order to be delivered.

9. A train-order delivering device comprising a standard, a supporting bracket secured thereto and provided with angularly disposed arms, clamping members secured to the free ends of the arms, hoops engaging the clamping members and provided with means for supporting the order to be delivered, and a catching tool having one end thereof formed with a hook and provided with inclined spring clamping tongues adapted to engage the hoops.

10. A train-order delivering device comprising a stand ard, an arm extending laterally from the standard and having its free end inclined downwardly, a clamping member formed of a single piece of wire an intermediate portion of which is bent upon itself to form a loop and its free ends extended in opposite directions on each side of the arms to form clamping jaws, a fastening device carried by the arm and engaging the looped end of the clamping member, rods extending transversely across the arm and disposed in staggered relation with respect to the clamping jaws, and a messageholding device clamped in position on the arm by engagement with the jaws.

11. A train-order delivering device comprising a support, an arm secured to the support and having its free end curved laterally, a clamping member carried by the arm, and a message holding device curved to conform to the shape of the arm and adapted to bear against the adjacent longitudinal edge of the latter, said message holding device being' locked in position on the arm by engagement with the clamping member.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my own, I have hereto affixed my signature in the presence of two witnesses.

JOHN crcnao NEEL, JR.

Witnesses 

